Hypovolemia

hypovolemia is a state of decreased blood volume; more specifically, decrease in volume

of blood plasma.

Causes
Common causes of hypovolemia are dehydration, bleeding, severe burns and drugs such
as diuretics or vasodilators typically used to treat hypertensive individuals. Rarely, it may
occur as a result of a blood donation. Severe hypovolemia leads to hypovolemic shock.

Diagnosis
Clinical symptoms may not present until 10-20% of total whole-blood volume is lost.
Hypovolemia can be recognized by elevated pulse, diminished blood pressure, and the
absence of perfusion as assessed by skin signs (skin turning pale) and/or capillary refill
on forehead, lips and nail beds. The patient may feel dizzy, faint, nauseated or very
thirsty. These signs are also characteristic of most types of shock.
Note that in children, compensation can result in an artificially high blood pressure
despite hypovolemia. This is another reason (aside from initial lower blood volume) that
even the possibility of internal bleeding in children should always be treated aggressively.
Also look for obvious signs of external bleeding while remembering that people can
bleed to death internally without any external blood loss.
Also consider possible mechanisms of injury (especially the steering wheel and/or
use/non-use of seat belt in motor vehicle accidents) that may have caused internal
bleeding such as ruptured or bruised internal organs. If trained to do so and the situation
permits, conduct a secondary survey and check the chest and abdominal cavities for pain,
deformity, guarding or swelling. (Injuries to the pelvis and bleeding into the thigh from
the femoral artery can also be life-threatening.)

Treatment
Minor hypovolemia from a known cause that has been completely controlled (such as a
blood transfusion from a healthy patient who is not anemic) may be countered with initial
rest for up to half an hour, oral fluids including moderate sugars (apple juice is good) and
the advice to the donor to eat good solid meals with proteins for the next few days.
Typically, this would involve a fluid volume of less than one liter (1000 ml), although

this is highly dependent on body weight. Larger people can tolerate slightly more blood
loss than smaller people.
More serious hypovolemia should be assessed by a nurse or doctor. When in doubt, treat
hypovolemia aggressively.

First Aid
External bleeding should be controlled by direct pressure. If direct pressure fails, other
techniques such as elevation and pressure points should be considered. The tourniquet
should almost never be employed. If a first-aider recognizes internal bleeding, the lifesaving measure to take is to immediately call for advanced medical help.

Field Care
Emergency oxygen should be immediately employed to increase the efficiency of the
patient's remaining blood supply. This intervention can be life-saving.
The use of intravenous fluids (IVs) may help compensate for lost fluid volume, but IV
fluids cannot carry oxygen in the way that blood can. See also emergency medical
services for a discussion of techniques used in IV fluid management of hypovolemia.

Hospital Treatment
If the hypovolemia was caused by medication, the administration of antidotes may be
appropriate but should be carefully monitored to avoid shock or the emergence of other
pre-existing conditions.
Blood transfusions coupled with surgical repair are the definitive treatment for
hypovolemia caused by trauma. See also the discussion of shock and the importance of
treating reversible shock while it can still be countered.